As the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) prepares to kick off its centenary celebrations later this month, some notable absences from the guest list are drawing attention. Pakistan and Bangladesh haven’t been invited, and Turkey also appears unlikely to receive an invitation.
While the event is expected to be grand, inclusive and wide-ranging with participation from intellectuals, politicians, journalists, influencers, entrepreneurs and community leaders, however, the diplomatic invitations are being handled with caution. Sources told India Today that the “atmosphere isn’t right” for inviting Pakistan.
According to sources aware of the matter, the decision is unsurprising given the current geopolitical climate. Relations with Islamabad and Dhaka remain strained, while Ankara’s recent defence collaborations with Pakistan have further complicated matters.
Though the RSS is engaging with various embassies, the consensus is that the environment isn’t conducive to extending an invitation to Pakistan or, by extension, to Turkey and Bangladesh.
THREE DAYS, BIG VOICES
The flagship event will take place from August 26 to 28 at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. The final day is expected to be particularly impactful, with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat taking questions from the audience.
“This is more than a celebration,” said RSS pracharak and national executive member Sunil Ambekar. “It’s a platform to reflect on the past, explain the ideology, and chart a roadmap for the future. We’ve had in-depth discussions on where RSS stands, where it’s going, and what kind of energy we want to harness.”
WHY TURKEY, BANGLADESH MAY BE LEFT OUT
The diplomatic exclusions extend beyond Pakistan. Turkey, due to its growing defense ties with Islamabad, is also likely to be sidelined. Earlier this year, the RSS-affiliate Swadeshi Jagaran Manch even called for economic sanctions against Ankara.
Bangladesh’s exclusion is also under consideration, largely due to rising concerns over attacks on minorities under Dhaka’s interim regime. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has raised repeated alarms, and until the situation stabiliSes, an invitation seems unlikely.
Nonetheless, the Sangh plans to reach across the political and social spectrum—extending invites to members of opposition parties and representatives from Muslim and Christian communities.
Unlike the single-location event held in 2018, the centenary celebrations are being scaled nationwide. After Delhi, major events are planned in Bengaluru (November), Kolkata and Mumbai (February). The aim: to broaden engagement, spark dialogue and reflect on the RSS’s journey.
At the heart of it all is a central theme: “100 Years of RSS: New Horizons.”
The celebration will explore the Sangh’s legacy, its evolving role in Indian society, and its vision for the future. But this time, the focus isn’t just on swayamsevaks. The invite list spans a diverse array of voices: politicians, academics, entrepreneurs, media personalities, industrialists and social influencers.
“There’s a need to question inherited colonial structures, especially in fields like medicine and economics,” Ambekar said. “It’s time to explore an Indian way forward.”
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